Transform castoffs into cash
These savvy women have discovered that old books, discarded clothing and other unwanted items are actually worth a lot of money. Read on to steal their secrets!
“I earn up to $30 an hour making mittens out of old sweaters”
“I’ve always been interested in upcycling. I hate seeing things thrown away. One day I came across a pattern on Pinterest to turn old wool sweaters into mittens. I printed out the pattern and adjusted it so it would fit my hands, laid it on an old sweater, cut around it and stitched them up.
“Soon after, I started making mittens for friends and family, using sweaters that I picked up at thrift stores for just $7. Eventually, I added my own touches to the mittens, mixing and matching patterns, sewing on old buttons and making cuffs. I can make between one and three pairs of mittens out of a single sweater, depending on the size of the sweater and how much it shrinks when I wash it. It’s so easy to do—anyone who can cut and sew can handle it.
“People started telling me that I should sell the mittens, so I went into a local artisan shop called Pink Spotted Goat and asked if they would like to stock them. They did, and I started selling them for $30 a pair. I also joined some Facebook groups dedicated to handmade items and sold them on there, plus started my own Facebook page, ‘Needle and Spice.’ A year later, I decided I wanted to make something a little more masculine, so I found a pattern for Christmas stockings made out of old suits. I sell those for $25.
“I use the money I make for household expenses and extras for my two daughters, 10 and 14. It’s great to be able to tell them that old sweaters pay for their yearly ski passes!”